Evidence of irregularities in CM's wife case, says ED

NT Correspondent

New Delhi/ Bengaluru

Evidence of several irregularities have been detected in the transfer of 14 sites by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) to BM Parvathi, the wife of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, according to the ED. The federal agency, in a recent communication sent to the Karnataka Lokayukta department, also claimed that its probe has also found that MUDA had "illegally" allotted a total of 1,095 sites in benami and other such transactions. There was "contravention" of statutory guidelines" in the land transfer to Parvathi and evidence of "tampering", violation of office procedures, usage of "undue" favour and influence and "forging" of signatures have been detected during the Enforcement Directorate's money laundering investigation into the politically sensitive case.

The agency has also claimed to have found evidence that one of Siddaramaiah's personal assistants, S G Dinesh Kumar alias CT Kumar, wielded "undue influence" in the process. The alleged illegal activities at MUDA "did not end" with the case of Parvathi as a total of 1,095 sites, with a market value of more than Rs 700 crore, were "illegally" allotted, according to an investigation report accessed by PTI and information from official sources. "Most of the allotments have been made in the name of Benami or dummy persons in the guise of land losers. However, the beneficiaries of these illegal allotments are real estate businessmen and influential persons," the Enforcement Directorate probe found. The ED is conducting a money laundering investigation against Siddaramaiah, Parvathi, the CM's brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased the land under probe and gifted it to Parvathi and some others after taking cognisance of a Karnataka Lokayukta Police FIR filed against them.

The CM, who has been questioned by the Lokayukta in this case, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing by him or his family, saying these were politically motivated charges against him as the opposition was "scared" of him. It is alleged that 14 compensatory sites were allotted to Parvathi in an upmarket area in Mysuru (Vijayanagar Layout third and fourth stages), which had higher property value as compared to the location of her land which had been "acquired" by MUDA. The MUDA had allotted plots to Parvathi under a 50:50 ratio scheme in lieu of 3.16 acres of her land. The ED has informed the Lokayukta that it can be evidently observed that the 14 sites were allotted "illegally" to Parvathi in "contravention" of statutory guidelines on allotment of sites. It said that evidence related to tampering, violation of office procedures, exerting undue favour and influence, forging of signature, evidence tampering etc. is also evident from the investigation, the agency said.